About Banyan Massage Hale

About Us

Banyan Massage is a well-established, peaceful and professional massage therapy studio located within the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on Banyan Drive.

We are a team of experienced and licensed professionals focused on providing comprehensive quality care. We are committed to supporting our clients in their health maintenance and long-term wellness goals.

This thriving massage practice has been owned and operated by Anne Nuttall and Melissa Cardwell since 2008 when we came together as good friends with a shared vision.

Our mission is to provide extraordinarily compassionate and skilled massage therapy to each person who walks through our doors.

Over the many years, we have built a strong team of highly skilled massage practitioners and have established a wide range of clientele whose needs are equally varied and diverse. All of us here believe in the profoundly healing benefits of massage therapy and have witnessed the positive effects, particularly in the clients with whom we’ve established long-standing relationships.

We understand that each person is a unique individual with his or her own specific needs. We are committed to addressing each person’s challenges and goals so as to be powerful allies in health and healing. Our aspiration is to provide a calm and therapeutic space in which you can relax and rejuvenate in the midst of your busy life.

You deserve it!

Our Space

Our Owners

Melissa Cardwell, MAT #8868
Co-Owner of Banyan Massage Hale

Melissa moved to the Big Island of Hawaii in 2002 after receiving her B.A. from Oberlin College in Ohio. After a few years in social work, she decided to pursue massage therapy and attended the Big Island Academy of Massage. After completing her apprenticeship at Island Therapeutic Massage and receiving her massage license in 2005, she worked at a number of massage establishments including Kalani Honua in Puna, Mauna Kea Resort and Kona Day Spa, Olena’s in Hilo and Kulaniapia Bed and Breakfast. She finally arrived at Banyan Massage Hale where she teamed up with Anne in 2008 to establish a thriving massage practice.

Melissa considers herself an on-going student and, as such, continuously seeks to deepen her massage practice. She offers a wide-range of modalities including Ashiatsu, Deep Tissue, Lomi Lomi, Hawaiian Hot Stones Massage (Pohaku Wela), Pre-Natal Massage, Cranial Sacral and Myofascial Release. Melissa has also received her Level I in Reiki. Though she has experience in the spa industry, her passion is therapeutic massage and assisting people in improving the quality of their lives. Melissa strongly believes in having an unconditional regard for her clients and seeks to support them by drawing from her deep well of knowledge and compassion. Every session is unique and based on an individual’s particular and distinct needs. Melissa feels tremendously grateful to have found a professional path that is as rewarding as massage therapy and to be a part of the phenomenal team of therapists at Banyan Massage.

Anne Nuttall, MAT #8073
Co-Owner of Banyan Massage Hale

Anne moved to the Big Island of Hawaii in 2003 after completing massage therapy training at Healing Spirits in Boulder, Colorado. She completed Hawaiian Lomi Lomi training at Aunty Margaret Machados’ in South Kona in 2004 and became a Licensed Massage Therapist in Hawaii shortly thereafter. She continued her education and was employed at the Hawaiian Islands School of Massage in Kona where she worked as an administrator, student counselor and massage clinic manager. In 2008, Anne joined Melissa as Co-Owner of Banyan Massage Hale. Together they have grown the business into a well respected and thriving massage practice that serves both Hawaii locals and visitors alike.

In 2018, Anne discovered a truly unique and highly therapeutic massage modality called Ashiatsu, in which the therapist’s feet, body weight and gravity are utilized to apply broad deep pressure. She completed foundational and advanced training courses in ‘Deepfeet Bar Therapy’ Ashiatsu in Portland, Oregon and is now a certified practitioner of this modality.

Anne is skilled and experienced in many modalities though these days her passion and specialty is in Ashiatsu. She also offers therapeutic massage and incorporates Swedish Massage, Lomi Lomi and Hot Stones, as well as deep therapeutics such as Myofascial Release. Anne also performs specific pain and injury treatment massage and works with clients who seek acute injury rehabilitation as well as chronic pain relief. Her sessions are always customized to each individual’s specific needs and she takes great care in providing a personalized experience for every client. She has a kind and nurturing presence and an open heart. With a deep passion for massage and bodywork Anne feels very fortunate to be a professional in the field and to be an integral part of the team at Banyan Massage.